Carton



March 12, 1963 A. J. GERBINO l 3,081,017

CARTON Filed Aug. 31, 19.60

BY MM United States Patent O 3,081,017 CARTON Anthony .lohn Gerbino,Easton, Pa., assiguor to American l('Ian Company, New York, N-Y., acorporation of New 'i ersey Filed Aug. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 53,082

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-39) Ihis invention relates yto cartons orcontainers and has particular reference to cartons having end closuresor flaps which upon being overlapped and interfolded together may belocked and unlocked readily by a mere touch of a flap.

The present invention is directed to cartons ofrectangular, preferablysquare, configuration made from a single blank of paperboard, breboard,`or the like, which may be opened and closed repeatedly in its useand/or Vreuse for holding articles such as paper cups, bowls, plates,etc., which may be arranged in stacked relation, which cartons also maybe folded flat in a knockdown condition for storage purposes and forshipment. Such `a carton is provided with a main body portion having aplurality of end aps at opposite ends thereof which are 4hingeablyconnected and which are arranged for being folded inwardly inoverlapping relation and interengaged by a slit and tongue, ear, ta-b orsimilar connection, Whereupon the outer folds thereafter are tucked orlocked together in closed position to insure the ends against accidentalopening. The interengaging and locking feature of the carton may beapplied to a single end of the carton or to both ends particularly wherethe glueing of the bottom flap closure of the carton is impractical orbelieved unnecessary. j l

An object of the present invention is the provision of a carton having abody portion with a plurality of end closure flaps at yits opposite endswhich may be folded inwardly in overlapping and interengaging relationand which may be locked together and/or `unlocked readily `by ameretouch of a flap.

Another object is the provision of a medial line of `crease or Weaknessprovided in an outer flap which will permit bending or flexing of theflap outwardly from the normal plane of its end closed position tofacilitate insertion of a pair of 4oppositely disposed and laterallyextended ears or tabs into a pair of spaced apart slits provided in acooperating ap without bending, tearing, or distorting the tabs duringthe insertion thereof.

A further object is the provision of a carton having end flaps forclosing the end thereof of a projection formed in one of the outer apsunder which a terminal the outer aps together in closed position.

Still another object is the provision in such a carton of a pair ofoppositely disposed flaps which, upon being ,swung inwardly, providel aninner end wall of the carton the following description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton embody- `ing the presentinvention illustrating' the end closure flaps in closed and lockedposition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the carton shown in FIG. 1illustrating the interengaging and locking together of the outer flaps;

j edge of another coacting flap may be tucked for locking 3,081,017Patented Mar. 12, 1963 ICC FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showingthe inner and the outer closure ilaps in an opened position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the inner pair of aps in aclosed position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing one of the outer flapsin a bent position for tucking of the ears into slits provided inanother of the outer aps.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, thedrawing discloses a carton 11 formed from a single blank of ibreboard,paperboard, or similar material, cut, slit, and creased in any suitablemanner so that upon being formed into shape provides a substantiallyrigid body portion 12, rectangular in crosssection having four sidewalls 13, 14, 15 and 16. The side edges of the body portion 12 arejoined together along one corner of the carton in a lap side seam 17which is secured together by any suitable adhesive (FIG. 3).

At the opposite ends, the carton body 12 is provided with`a plurality ofend closure flaps which are slit at the four corners and creasedtransversely in order to provide hinge connections between the flaps andthe four side walls of the main body portion. For the purpose of thisinvention, only the flaps which are applicable to the upper end of thecarton will be described hereinafter, but it is to be understood thatthe same or Aa similar type may be used for the bottom end of thecarton. Y

Hence, each of the side walls 13, 14, 15 and 16 adjacent the upper endof the carton has a transverse crease .line 21, 22, 23, and 24 formedtherein to provide a hinge connection for each eind flap 25, 26, 27, and28. The end flaps 2S, 27 constitute a pair of inner end flaps -sincethey are folded inwardly in advance of the others and cooperate to forrnan inner end wall of the carton. yThese inner end flaps preferably areof a predetermined length so that upon being folded inwardly and down-`wardly into a closed position (FIG. 4) their inner edges come into`substantial abutting relation.

.other in overlapping relation and together form an outer vend wall ofthe carton.

These outer end flaps 26, 28 preferably are provided with interengagingand locking 'elements so that upon being swung into closed positionthese elements coact and thus retain the outer end walls securely closedwithout the need of additional sealing or fastening means.

One of the outer aps 26 serves as the first of this pair of elements tobe swung inwardly and thus is provided with a substantially U-shapedslit 31 cut therein (FIGS. 3 and 4). An intermediate portion 32 of thisslit extends transversely of the flap 26 and at each end merges into anoutwardly sloping or angularly extended slit portion 33 which at theirouter ends terminates in inwardly sloping portions 34. The corners ofthe slit 31 at each of its points of merger preferably are rounded toprotect the slit 31 from tearing.

The other or remaining end flap 28 is cut along sloping lines 36 whichextend inwardly from each side of the liap and merge Vinto a baseportion of a pair of laterally and outwardly extended tabs or ears 37.These tabs are adapted to coact with the angularly extended slitportions 33 when the outer end ilap 28 is swung downwardly intooverlapping and closed position upon the outer end flap 26 (FIG. 5) forinterengaging the outer flaps together.

In order to protect the tabs 37 from being bent, torn, or distorted,during their insertion into the angularly extended slit portions 33, theouter end flap 2S is provided with a weakened medial portion extendinginwardly from the outer edge o'f this flap. For this purpose, `a creaseline 3S is' pressed into the outer flap which will permit this flap tobe flexed or bent outwardly from the normal or fiat plane position ofthe outer end wall as best illus-V trated in FIG. 5 for easy insertionof the tabs 3'7 into these slits 33. A

AFollowing the interengaging of the outer end flaps 26, 2S, the latterof these flaps may be locked in its closed position. Thisis effected bytucking in an outer marginal edge portionl39 of this outer flapbeneathia projection 41 provided in the coacting outer flap 26. Theprojection V41 is formed by the intermediate slit portion 32 whichpreferably has an arcuate outline, defining the projection along oneside of the slit having a curved forward edge (FiGS. 3 and 4).

`In order to effect the locking of the interengaged outer end flaps 26,28', a mere touch ot' the outer flap 28 is all that is necessary. Such atouch app'ied at the medial area of the outer flap ZS as bestillustrated in FIG. 5 to bring the flap to apositio'n substantiallynormal or in the plane of the outer end wall (FIGS. l andZ), thus snapsand engages ,the outer edge portion 39 of the flap 28 beneath theprojection 41.

In order to open the upperend of thecarton, a similar touch action isall that is required. For this purpose a slight pressure applied to theouter end flap 26 adjacent the projection4l, releases the outer edgeportion 39 from beneath the projection 41 which thus unlocks the outerend flaps 26, Z8 whereupon the medial portion of the outer flap 23 thenmay be lifted upwardly to disengage the outer flaps which thereafter areraised into the position best illustrated in FIG. 4 exposing the innerpair of flaps 25, 27. These inner flaps then may be lifted upwardly toexpose the contents of the carton and to remove the same as desired.Hence, a finger opening 42 is provided in the inner end liapsrtofacilitate this operation. For this purpose, one corner of each of theabutting edges of the inner flaps 25, 27 is cut away along an angularline of cut 43 and thus provides a substantially triangular fingeropening at one side edge adjoining the base of the outer flap 28. j

It is thought that the invention and many `of its `attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts 'without departing from the spirit 'and scopeofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: n n

l. A carton for holding articles comprising a 'substantially rectangularfibre body, having four side walls', a flap extending from each of saidwalls at one lend of said body, said flaps arranged for being foldedinwardly in cooperative relation for closing the end of the carton, apair of said flaps extending from opposite body side walls constitutingan inner end Wall of the carton, a pair of outer flaps extending fromopposite side walls intermediate the first of said side walls arrangedfor overlapping engagement upon said inner end wall vflaps. and uponeach other providing an outer end wall of the earton, one of said outerflaps having a substantially U- shaped slit therein including asubstantially arcuate intermediate portion and angularly disposed endportions, said angularly disposed end portions extending obliquelyoutwardly toward the outer edges of the flap, said intermediate portiondefining a projection along one sidel of said slit curved outwardly andengageable over the edge portion of the other of said outer flaps, saidother flap Vhaving a pair of laterally and outwardly extending tabs forinsertion into said angularly kdisposed end portions for interengagingand locking said outer flaps together,

d and a crease line in said other outer flap extendinginwardly from theouter edge thereof providing a medial line of bend to permit outwardbending of said other flap from its normal flat plane to facilitate theinsertion of said tabs into said angularly disposed end portions withoutbending and distorting said tabs.

2'. A carton for holding articles comprising a substantially rectangularfibre body, having four side wals, a flap extending from each of saidWalls at one end of said body, said flaps arranged for being foldedinwardly in cooperative relation for closing the end of the carton,- apair of said flaps extending from opposite body sidel walls constitutingan inner end wall of the carton, another pair of said fiaps extendingfrom opposite side walls intermediate the first said side walls arrangedfor overlapping engagement upon said inner end wall tiaps and upon cachIother providing an outer end wall of the carton, one of said outer iiapshaving a slit therein including an intermediate portion and divergentend portions, another of saidpouter flaps having a pair of laterally andoutwardly extending tabs for insertion into said divergent end portionsof said slit for interengaging said outer flaps together, and aprojection bordering upon said intermediate slit portion engageable withan edge portion of said outer flap intermediate said tabs for lockingsaid flaps'together as the outer wall of the carton.

3. A carton for holding articles comprising a substantially rectangularfibre body having four sidev walls, a flap extending from each of saidwalls at one end of said body, said flaps arranged for being foldedinwardly in cooperative relation for closing the end of the carton, a4pair of said flaps extending from opposite body side walls constitutingan inner end wall of the carton, another pair of said flaps extendingfrom opposite side walls intermediate the first said side walls arrangedfor overlapping engagement upon said inner end wall flaps and upon eachother providing an outer end wall of the cart0n, one of said outer flapshaving a slit therein includ-I in'g an intermediate portion andangularly disposed end portions, another of said outer fiaps having apair of lat-` erally and outwardly extended tabs for insertion into saidangularly disposed end portions of said slit for interen-j gaging saidouter flaps together, and a crease line in said outer flap extendinginwardly from the outer 'edge thereof providing *a line of bend for amedial portion of said flap to permit 'it to be bent outwardly from itsnormal fiat plane to 'facilitate the insertion of saidl tabs into saidang'ularly `disposed end portions of said slit Without bending anddistorting said tabs, and a projection bordering upon one side edge oflsaid intermediate portion of said slit en- 'gageable lwith yan edgeportion of said outer flap intermediate said tabs for locking said flapstogether as the outer vwall of the carton.

'4. A'carton Vfor holding articles comprising a substantiallyrectangular fibre body having four lside walls, a

vflap extending from each of said walls at one endof said body, saidflaps arranged for being folded inwardly in cooperative relation forclosing the end of the Salton, 'a

.pair of said flaps extending from Opposite body side Walls having a`predetermined length for 'edge butting relation' and togetherconstituting an inner end wall of the carton, anotherpair lof said flapsextending from opposite side walls intermediate the first said sidewalls arranged for overlapping engagement upon said inner end wall flapsand upon each other providing an outer end wall of the Carton, one ofsaid outer flaps having a slit therein defining an arcuate intermediateportion and angularly extended end portions, another of said outer flapshaving a pair'of laterally and outwardly extended tabs for insertioninto'said angularly lextended slit portions for inter-- engaging saidouter flaps together, a projection defined by and bordering upon thearcuate intermediate portion of' said slit and engageable with an edgeportion of the'othcry of said outer flaps for locking said flapstogether as the outer wall of the carton, and a finger opening attheabut.-

ting edges of said inner wall flaps for inserting a iinger therein tofacilitate lifting said latter aps when opening the carton.

5. A carton as claimed in claim 4 in which the nger opening in saidinner wall flaps is provided by having two adjacent corners at theabutting edges cut away and detning a substantially triangular opening.

6. A carton for holding articles comprising a substantially rectangularbre body having four side walls, a flap extending from each of saidwalls at one end of said body, said flaps arranged for being foldedinwardly in cooperative relation for closing the end of the carton, apair of said flaps extending from opposite body side walls having apredetermined length for edge butting relation and together constitutingan inner end wall of the carton, another pair of said aps extending fromopposite side walls intermediate the rst said side walls arranged foroverlapping engagement upon said inner end wall aps and upon each otherproviding an outer end wall of the carton, one of said outer aps havinga slit therein defining an arcuate intermediate portion and angularlyextended end portions, another of said outer iiaps having a pair oflaterally and outwardly extended tabs for insertion into said angularlyextended slit portions for interengaging said outer aps together, and acrease line in said outer ap extending inwardly from the outer edgethereof providing a line of bend for a medial portion of said flap topermit it to be bent outwardly from its normal iiat plane to facilitatethe insertion of said tabs into said slit without bending and distortingsaid tabs, a projection dened by and bordering upon the arcuateintermediate portion of said slit and engageable with an edge portion ofthe other of said outer flaps for locking said flaps together as theouterwall of the carton, and a iinger opening at the abutting edges ofsaid inner wall ilaps for inserting a nger therein to facilitate liftingsaid latter flaps when opening the carton.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,407,483 Rike Feb. 21, 1922 1,715,583 Warren June 4, 1929 2,151,733Boniield Mar, 28, 1939 2,341,762 Conklin Feb. 15, 1944 2,349,707DEsposito May 23, 1944 2,635,802 Belsinger Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS796,698 France Jan. 27, 1936 748,346 Great Britain Apr. 25, 1956

1. A CARTON FOR HOLDING ARTICLES COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGUALRFIBRE BODY, HAVING FOUR SIDE WALLS, A FLAP EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAIDWALLS AT ONE END OF SAID BODY, SAID FLAPS ARRANGED FOR BEING FOLDEDINWARDLY IN COOPERATIVE RELATION FOR CLOSING THE END OF THE CARTON, APAIR OF SAID FLAPS EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE BODY SIDE WALLS CONSTITUTINGAN INNER END WALL OF THE CARTON, A PAIR OF OUTER FLAPS EXTENDING FROMOPPOSITE SIDE WALLS INTERMEDIATE THE FIRST OF SAID SIDE WALLS ARRANGEDFOR OVERLAPPING ENGAGEMENT UPON SAID INNER END WALL FLAPS AND UPON EACHOTHER PROVIDING AN OUTER END WALL OF THE CARTON, ONE OF SAID OUTER FLAPSHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY USHAPED SLIT THEREIN INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLYARCUATE INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS, SAIDANGULARLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS EXTENDING OBLIQUELY OUTWARDLY TOWARD THEOUTER EDGES OF THE FLAP, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION DEFINING A PROJECTIONALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID SLIT CURVED OUTWARDLY AND ENGAGEABLE OVER THEEDGE PORTION OF THE OTHER OF SAID OUTER FLAPS, SAID OTHER FLAP HAVING APAIR OF LATERALLY AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING TABS FOR INSERTION INTO SAIDANGULARLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS FOR INTERENGAGING AND LOCKING SAID OUTERFLAPS TOGETHER, AND A CREASE LINE IN SAID OTHER OUTER FLAP EXTENDINGINWARDLY FROM THE OUTER EDGE THEREOF PROVIDING A MEDIAL LINE OF BEND TOPERMIT OUTWARD BENDING OF SAID OTHER FLAP FROM ITS NORMAL FLAT PLANE TOFACILITATE THE INSERTION OF SAID TABS INTO SAID ANGULARLY DISPOSED ENDPORTIONS WITHOUT BENDING AND DISTORTING SAID TABS.